Daily Archives: December 22, 2020

2020-12-22: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-12-22). US Cyber Spy Scandal: Pompeo Blames Russia, Trump Blames China. Why? globalresearch.ca The contradictory claims from Secretary of State Pompeo and President Trump blaming Russia and China respectively for carrying out what's been described by many as one of the most intrusive cyber espionage operations against America in history are confusing for …

Miko Peled (2020-12-22). Israel's Genocide in Gaza Goes Uninterrupted, But Is Europe Finally Taking Notice? mintpressnews.com A long and cruel siege, constant Israeli attacks resulting in the killing of countless civilians, destruction of homes and infrastructure, extreme poverty, and trauma remain the daily bread of Palestinians in Gaza.

Ahmad Soheil Ahmadi (2020-12-22). The Winter's Tale: Solstice on the Streets of Paris. counterpunch.org Acts of kindness When you give assistance in any form to a homeless asylum seeker shivering in the freezing European winter, he or she may not be able to repay you there and then. One day though, if you're lucky enough, you might see the fruit of the smile you created. Asylum seekers come to

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-22). In Luxembourg workers of clothing-retail company H&M protest against reduction in year-end bonus. peoplesdispatch.org Swedish clothing-retail brand Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) in Luxembourg decided to reduce the workers' year-end bonus, equivalent to the two months of partial unemployment caused by the lockdown between March and May…

Slomski A. (2020-12-22). Exercise Intensity Unrelated to Older Adults' Mortality Risk. jamanetwork.com Researchers in Norway found no significant difference in all-cause mortality among older adults following standard exercise guidelines or supervised high- or moderate-intensity exercise regimens, a trial published in the BMJ reported.

The Canary (2020-12-22). Take it one day at a time to tackle lonely Covid Christmas, charities say. thecanary.co Charities are urging people anticipating a lonely festive period to "take it one day at a time", in an effort to protect their mental health. Last-minute restrictions on social freedoms mean many of us will be facing the Christmas period without loved ones. | London and parts of southern and eastern England were rushed into the new Tier 4 lockdown regime at the weekend. This effectively cancelled most Christmas plans, and imposed measures similar to the previous national lockdowns amid the rise of a new coronavirus mutant strain. | Scotland and Northern Ireland have already announced new lockdowns from Boxing Day…

Dean Baker (2020-12-22). China, Christmas, and the Coronavirus. zcomm.org We lost an opportunity to have worldwide cooperation in the development of vaccines, bringing in not only Europe, but China…

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-22). Lifting of sanctions, core of JCPOA: EU envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (MNA) — European Union Ambassador to the United Nations called lifting of sanctions 'the core of JCPOA', emphasizing that Islamic Republic of Iran should benefit from economic interests of the agreement.

Online News Editor (2020-12-22). Australia now has four cases of mutated Covid-19 strain. laprensalatina.com Sydney, Australia, Dec 22 (efe-epa).- Australia on Tuesday raised to four the number of cases linked to the hyper-contagious mutant Covid-19 strain. The new cases of the fast-spreading virus have sparked health concerns even as flights continue to repatriate Australians stranded in the United Kingdom, where the new coronavirus variant was first detected. However, Chief …

Staff (2020-12-22). Black Critical Care Dr. Taison Bell of UVA on Fighting COVID, Racism & Securing Fair Vaccine Access. democracynow.org More than 40 countries have temporarily suspended some or all travel from the United Kingdom after British health officials announced a highly infectious variant of the novel coronavirus has been spreading in the country. South Africa has detected a similar variant. The new variant is believed to be 70% more contagious, but health experts say existing vaccines will still be effective against it. "What's important to remember is that mutations will naturally happen in the course of a virus that's in the community and circulating," says Dr. Taison Bell, critical care and infectious disease physician at the Universi…

RT (2020-12-22). Putin signs legislation strengthening lifetime immunity from prosecution for former Russian presidents & their family members. rt.com Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law that will ensure lifetime immunity from prosecution for former presidents of Russia after they leave office, also extending protections to the families of ex-heads of state. | In practice, it means that Putin can't be taken to court for criminal or administrative offences after leaving the Kremlin. The same rules will apply to Dmitry Medvedev, who held the position from 2008-2012, and all future office holders. The new set-up was included in constitutional amendments, approved by a public vote in June, that made significant changes to Russia's system of gov…

WSWS (2020-12-22). Still no deal in Brexit talks as working class faces catastrophe. wsws.org Amid a deadly catastrophe unparalleled in Europe since the end of the Second World War, the UK and the EU governments are locked in an intractable struggle for economic and political advantage.

teleSUR (2020-12-21). UK COVID-19 Variant Circulates in Belgium, Netherlands, Italy. telesurenglish.net Scientists on Monday announced that the new strain of the SARS-Cov-2 identified in the United Kingdom is also circulating in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. | RELATED: | "This variant is not limited to the U.K. and has already been detected elsewhere in the world," Belgium's COVID-19 spokesman Yves Van Laethem said, adding that his country has 4 cases of the new variant. | The mutation was detected in Septem…

news.un (2020-12-21). New COVID-19 variants under the microscope as travel bans mount over UK strain. news.un.org The UN health agency chief said on Monday that scientists have been working to understand new COVID-19 variants that have been reported in South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Fight Back (2020-12-21). Today is Stalin's birthday. fightbacknews.org December 21 marks the birthday of Joseph Stalin, leader of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. | Though reviled in the West, Stalin oversaw the period of socialist construction in the USSR. Under his leadership the country abolished illiteracy, unemployment, homelessness, and put an end to Russia's centuries-long history of famines. Under the leadership of Stalin, the USSR played a key role in turning back the tide of fascism and the defeat of Nazi Germany. This victory was not just a victory for the Soviet Union and socialism, but a victory for the peoples of the world…

2020 news (2020-12-21). 80,000 People Sign "Stop Clinical Trials of Corona Vaccines" Petition —European Medicines Agency (EMA) Silent. globalresearch.ca Dr. Wolfgang Wordarg, pulmonologist and former head of a public health department, and Dr. Michael Yeadon, ex-Pfizer research director for respiratory diseases, petitioned the EMA, the European Medicines Agency, on December 1, 2020, to immediately stop clinical trials of …

Shannon Bugos (2020-12-21). Joe Biden and the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty: A Timeline of Inaction and Disingenuous Proposals. globalresearch.ca Upon entering office on January 20, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden will have 16 days before the last remaining treaty limiting US and Russian nuclear arsenals, the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ( The treaty limits …

South Front (2020-12-20). Video: Is Israel Searching for A Pretext to Invade Southern Syria? globalresearch.ca The Russian military and Russian-backed Syrian forces have been increasing their presence on the border with Iraq. | Less than a week ago, the Russian Military Police established a local HQ in al-Bukamal. Recently, the 5th Corps of the Syrian Army, …

Brian Berletic (2020-12-20). Russia's Hypersonic 'Zircon' Missile Takes Flight. "Can't Be Seen on Radar". Strategic Implications. globalresearch.ca Russian state media reported a successful test flight of its new hypersonic missile, the Zircon. Flying at Mach 8 (8 times the speed of sound or around 10,000 kph), the missile poses a new and credible threat to the air …

Nataliya Zaiser (2020-12-20). It's Time for Africa: Assessing Russia's Relations with the Continent. globalresearch.ca A Moscow-based public policy advisor specializing in Russia, the Eurasian Union and Africa explains some of the aspects of current Russia-Africa relations, problems and challenges, as well as its future perspectives. While over the past two decades, Russia's efforts to …

Muhammed Shabeer (2020-12-20). "Global Security Bill: French government's posture is hypocritical and dangerous" peoplesdispatch.org Sofian Nejjari of Mouvement Jeunes communistes de France, a communist youth organization, talks about the protests against the Global Security Bill, the repression unleashed against the protesters and the impact of the policies of the Macron government…

sputniknews (2020-12-20). No-Deal Brexit Still 'Likeliest Outcome' as Another Deadline Passes. sputniknews.com British and European Union sources told local media that the two sides were no closer to a post-Brexit trade deal on Sunday evening, despite weeks of intensive negotiations. They said the EU demands that it must continue the agreement on UK fishing waters, a key sticking point, with France still unwilling to bend on the issue.

Benjamin Barber (2020-12-20). 'Deep Canvassing' Targets Rural Georgia. zcomm.org "I think the one thing that we've learned is that it's important to connect with people's most immediate conditions"

Colin Todhunter (2020-12-19). Dystopian "Great Reset": "Own Nothing and Be Happy", Being Human in 2030. globalresearch.ca The World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual meeting at the end of January in Davos, Switzerland, brings together international business and political leaders, economists and other high-profile individuals to discuss global issues. Driven by the vision of its influential CEO Klaus …

Tom Conway (2020-12-19). How Georgia voters are transforming America's future. nationofchange.org They want to help the new administration put America on the path to health and shared prosperity.

Editor (2020-12-19). France Cynically Hides Its Islamophobia Behind 'LaàØcité'. scheerpost.com MEAE ] By Mariamne Everett "… Our country is one that has no problems with any of the world's religions whatsoever, because they are all practised freely in our country. And to all French people of the Muslim faith, and indeed to citizens from anywhere else in the world whose religion is Islam, I should like to say to them that France is a country in which this religion, too, is freely practised."… |

_____ (2020-12-19). US Votes Against UN Resolution Condemning Nazis. popularresistance.org The United States and Ukraine were the only two nations to vote against a United Nations resolution Wednesday on, "Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance." The resolution passed 130-2. | The resolution featured 70 fairly bland statements condemning the crimes of Adolf Hitler, while also expressing concern at the rise of contemporary Neo-Nazi groups. | "Neo-Nazism is more than just the glorification of a past movement, it is a contemporary phenomenon with strong vested inte…